Top Houston business groups endorse city bonds on Nov. 7 ballot

Houston's leading business organizations have endorsed all five city bond measures as voters begin heading to the polls.

The Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Houston Association of Realtors and Houston Apartment Association all announced their support for the $1.5 billion worth of city ballot items.

Early voting for the Nov. 7 election starts Monday and runs through Nov 3. Click here for a map of early voting locations and hours.

Houston voters are being asked to consider the following items, none of which will require a tax increase:

Proposition B: $159 million in public safety bonds to replenish the police and fire department vehicle fleets and renovate some fire and police stations.

Proposition C: $104 million in park bonds to improve numerous parks and repair at least seven community centers or pavilions.

Proposition D: $109 million in general government bonds to build or repair a dozen multi-service centers and repair four health clinics.

Proposition E: $123 million in library bonds to repair or renovate 11 libraries.

“Our No. 1 priority in the 2017 state legislative session was to reform the city’s public employee pension systems,” said Bob Harvey, CEO of the GHP. “Proposition A is a must-pass item as it authorizes the pension obligation bonds that are essential to the reform package. Propositions B-E simply enable the city to finance its long-term capital improvement plan and does so in a manner that fits within the financial capacity of the city to absorb the debt service on the bonds.”

Cindy Hamann, chair of the HAR board, “When I hear that we can make all these improvements to our city with no new taxes, it sounds like a no-brainer to me."
Laura Murillo, CEO of the Hispanic chamber, said approving the five items is critical to the city's "upward trajectory."
“Ensuring that our city is fiscally sound and meeting the needs of all its citizens is essential and these ballot propositions do just that," she said.
HAA president Kyle Brown added, "The city has a number of critical maintenance issues to take care of to ensure that we remain a welcoming, modern city. The improvement bonds will help fund these necessary improvements.”